Chapter 30: Absolution's Near

Weiss was pacing back and forth in her penthouse's living room, occasionally stopping to stare out the windows that overlooked the terrace outside. She was trying very hard to not make herself sick with worry, but she wasn't doing a very good job of it. It had been nearly three days since Yang had left to go look for Ruby, and Weiss hadn't heard a word from her since. She'd thought several times about messaging Yang and demanding an update, but she didn't want to be a distraction. She had faith that Yang would inform her the moment she'd found Ruby. However, her faith that Yang actually would find Ruby was waning.

In the absence of information, all kinds of horrible scenarios had wormed their way into Weiss's head. What if Jaune had indoctrinated Ruby somehow or had sold her into a slavery ring or had even killed her already? Rationally Weiss knew none of those possibilities were very likely, but as the days had crept by, she'd found it more and more difficult to remain rational. However, putting her hysteria aside, what she really feared might have happened more than anything was that Jaune had simply left Atlas. At first she'd discounted that possibility. The only way to leave the kingdom was to leave the continent. And the only way to do that was to book passage on a boat or airship. Surely Ruby would never allow herself to be quietly smuggled onboard any sea- or airborne vessel, but maybe she wouldn't have a choice. Whatever the case ended up being, Weiss didn't think she could stand not knowing for much longer.

A buzz suddenly came from Weiss's pocket. She immediately fished out her scroll, hoping with all her might that Yang was trying to contact her. However, when Weiss looked at her scroll's screen, all she saw was a message from Rosalie waiting for her there.

Rosalie:
Sorry to bother you, Miss Schnee. Would it be okay for me to meet you at your penthouse? I have something to deliver to you.

Weiss initially thought about telling Rosalie no, but she decided she could use the distraction. It wasn't like there was much more she could do until she'd heard from Yang anyway. She'd already planned and prepared for a dizzying array of scenarios. It would also be nice to see Rosalie again. Weiss hadn't spoken with her since she'd been summarily dismissed from the Schnee Dust Company.

Weiss tapped out a reply.

Me:
That would be fine. I'm home at the moment. When can you arrive?

Rosalie:
How about now?

Before Weiss could reply again the penthouse's doorbell rang. Weiss's head turned in the direction of her front door. She'd always appreciated Rosalie's punctuality, but this might have been a new record for her.

Weiss put her scroll back into her pocket and made her way across the living room. Once she'd arrived at the front door, she opened it up. Rosalie was standing on the other side as expected. She was holding a small paper shopping bag in her hand.

Rosalie said, "Miss Schnee! Sorry about dropping by unannounced."

"Technically, you did announce yourself," Weiss said, standing aside. "Please come in."

Rosalie walked into the penthouse. She looked around briefly and said, "It feels like ages since I was here last."

Weiss closed the door. Rosalie was wearing a jacket to ward off the early winter chill, so Weiss asked, "May I take your coat?"

"Why yes," Rosalie said, slipping off her jacket. "Thank you."

Weiss accepted Rosalie's jacket from her and went to hang it in the coat closet. While she did so, she said, "Since the Company's offices are still open at this hour, I assume you've been let go rather than reassigned."

"Yes, I'm afraid so," Rosalie said, although she didn't sound all that upset. "It was a wise decision I'd say. Who knows what kind of mischief I might have gotten up to without you to keep me in line."

Weiss suspected Rosalie was deflecting her true feelings with humor, although she wasn't entirely sure. Rosalie had worked for the Schnee Dust Company for far longer than she'd been Weiss's assistant. In fact, Weiss was almost certain that Rosalie had been at the Company longer than she'd been alive. It was a sudden end to a long career.

Weiss said, "I'm so sorry you got caught up in all of this, Rosalie."

"Oh, don't worry about it," Rosalie said with a dismissive wave of her hand. "Since I was fired without cause I received a very generous severance package. Although if I'm honest, I didn't even really need it. I was fully vested in the employee stock plan, which I've been paying into for…. Well, many years. I really could have retired any time I wanted to."

Weiss was surprised. She hadn't been aware of any of this. After all, Rosalie's personal finances were none of her business. She asked, "Then…why hadn't you retired already?"

"Because you needed me of course," Rosalie said.

Weiss was actually taken aback. She hadn't known that she'd warranted such loyalty. She said, "Thank you then. You're correct. I certainly did need you."

"I'm more worried about you than me," Rosalie said. "I mean, yes, I know you and your family are very affluent, but I hate to think of you joining the ranks of the idle rich. I doubt a young woman like yourself would find such a life fulfilling."

Weiss cringed internally at what Rosalie had said, although not for the reasons Rosalie might have suspected if she'd known. While Weiss had been waiting for Yang she'd done a little personal budgeting in an effort to keep her mind occupied with something other than imagining new and horrible fates that could've befallen Ruby. It had turned out that even without her job or the support of her family, Weiss still had about ten years worth of living expenses in accessible funds, even before she made any adjustments to her lifestyle. She supposed she should've been pleased about her continued fiscal solvency, but she couldn't help but wonder if it somehow invalidated the nobleness of her sacrificing her position at the Company in order to protect Creek Basin Mine's workers.

Weiss said to Rosalie, "I wouldn't worry about me. I'll be on to new ventures soon enough. In fact, I might be in the market for a personal assistant. If you're interested in the position."

A smug grin crossed Rosalie's face, although she did her best to conceal it. She said, "I'll have to give it some thought. Maybe I want to give retirement a try instead."

Weiss smiled a little. She said, "Whatever you choose, make sure it's what's best for you."

"I will, Miss Schnee. Thank you," Rosalie said.

"Now. You said you had something you were bringing to me?" Weiss asked.

"Oh! Yes," Rosalie said. She held out the small paper bag in her hand. "The jeweler finally finished."

It took just a moment, but Weiss suddenly realized what Rosalie was talking about. In all the excitement she'd forgotten about her outstanding order. She took the bag from Rosalie and started wandering with it over toward the kitchen. Rosalie followed.

Weiss reached into the bag and pulled out a small, felt-covered jewelry box. She'd made it to the kitchen by now, so she set the paper bag down on the kitchen's island. Then she opened up the jewelry box a tiny crack, just enough so she could see what was inside.

Rosalie asked, "Is it to your liking?"

"Yes," Weiss said in a small voice that was tinged with sadness.

"I don't suppose I could convince you to contrive a reason for me to be around when you present that to Miss Rose?" Rosalie asked.

Weiss let the jewelry box close. She clutched it tightly in her hands.

"Miss Schnee?" Rosalie said, suddenly sounding concerned. "What's wrong?"

Weiss swallowed a lump that had formed in her throat. She said, "Ruby has been…kidnapped."

"What!?" Rosalie exclaimed. "Why?! How?! By who?!"

"It doesn't matter," Weiss said.

"Of course it does!" Rosalie said. "Have you contacted the police?! Or…or the Huntsmen Association?! Or somebody?!"

"Everything is well in hand," Weiss lied.

"What do you need me to do, Miss Schnee?" Rosalie asked.

"Nothing at the moment," Weiss said, but then she recalled something. "Although…."

"Yes?" Rosalie eagerly asked.

"You didn't give out Ruby's number to Jaune Arc, did you?" Weiss asked.

"No! I would never do such a thing without asking first," Rosalie said.

"I thought not," Weiss said. It really didn't matter anymore, but she still wondered how Jaune had gotten Ruby's number. She suspected it might forever remain a mystery, although someone as widely traveled and storied as Jaune would no doubt have a whole web of contacts and connections all over the world. It probably hadn't been too hard for him to come by.

"Wait a moment. Jaune Arc? The hero?" Rosalie asked, sounding astonished. "Is he the one who kidnapped Ruby?"

"I'm afraid so," Weiss said.

"Unbelievable…" Rosalie said.

"I know," Weiss said. "I never suspected him."

"I did," Rosalie said.

"You…. You did?" Weiss asked.

"Well not of being such a ne'er-do-well," Rosalie said. "I would've never let him anywhere near you or Miss Rose if I did! But something about him always felt…off."

"I wish I'd had your instincts," Weiss said. "But he'll get what's coming to him. Presently, I'm waiting for—"

Suddenly, there was a loud thud as something slammed against one of the windows over in the living room. Both Weiss's and Rosalie's heads turned. They briefly looked at each other before they both hastily started making their way toward the living room. Along the way Weiss slipped the jewelry box she was holding into her pocket.

At first, Weiss couldn't see what had hit her window, but as she and Rosalie drew closer, she saw a bird, a golden eagle to be precise, lying sprawled out on its back on the terrace outside.

"Oh! Poor thing," Rosalie said. "Do you think it will be alright?"

Instead of responding, Weiss headed toward the sliding door that led out to the terrace.

"Miss Schnee!" Rosalie said. "Maybe you shouldn't—"

Weiss opened the sliding door. She walked over to the stunned eagle and scooped it up in her hands. The bird was awkward to carry, not because it was particularly heavy but because it was large. Weiss guessed its wingspan had to be at least two meters.

"Um…Miss Schnee…" Rosalie nervously said as Weiss stepped back inside holding the bird.

"Rosalie, do you remember where the linen closet is?" Weiss asked.

"Yes?" Rosalie said.

"Go grab a towel and meet me in the kitchen," Weiss said. Then she added, "One of the older towels on the high shelf."

Rosalie looked baffled, but she said, "Alright."

Weiss carried the bird over to the kitchen. Rosalie joined her there a moment later with the requested towel.

Weiss said, "Spread that out on the floor."

Rosalie was obviously confused about what Weiss was trying to do, but she did as Weiss had asked.

Weiss laid the eagle down on the towel. It wasn't moving, but it did appear to be breathing.

Weiss said, "Bring me a glass of water, please."

"Miss Schnee…" Rosalie said.

"I promise everything will make sense in a moment," Weiss said.

Rosalie shook her head, but she dutifully headed off deeper into the kitchen. She returned a moment later holding a glass filled with water.

Weiss took the glass from Rosalie. She stared down at the eagle lying unresponsive on her kitchen floor. She said, "Yang. Wake up."

The eagle didn't move at all.

"Yang!" Weiss said.

"Pardon me, Miss Schnee," Rosalie said. "But what are you doing?"

Weiss ignored Rosalie. Instead, she poured some of the water in the glass she was holding onto the bird's head.

The bird suddenly twitched to life, and Rosalie yelped in alarm. But rather than causing a ruckus, the bird rolled onto its talons and seemed to collect itself. It glanced around the room, getting its bearings. Then its body began to distort in a manner that was anything but natural. A moment later, Yang was sitting on the towel in the bird's place.

Rosalie exclaimed, "By the Brothers!"

Weiss was momentarily distracted by Rosalie's archaic expression. She briefly wondered if it was just a verbal tick she'd never heard Rosalie use before or if Rosalie was actually a member of the Fraternal Cult. She supposed it didn't matter. Rosalie's religious beliefs, much like her personal finances, were none of Weiss's business. Even if they might be aligned with a religion that most of the world considered to be nothing more than ancient superstition.

Weiss asked Yang, "Did you locate Ruby?"

Yang opened her mouth, but she just started hacking and coughing. She sounded like her throat was completely dry.

Weiss bent down and offered Yang the half-full glass of water in her hand. Yang took it and eagerly started drinking. However, she tried to drink too quickly, and a moment later she was sputtering on the water.

While Weiss waited for Yang to get herself under control, she noticed that Yang looked absolutely terrible. She was pale and drawn, and there were huge bags under her eyes. Weiss said to Yang, "You've been gone for days. Have you slept in that time? Or eaten?"

"Doesn't matter," Yang choked out in a hoarse voice. "I found Jaune. And his buddies. All of them! Ruby's got to be there too!"

Weiss had to fight back the urge to really lay into Yang for not taking proper care of herself. There would be time for that later. Instead, she asked, "Where? Where is Jaune?"

Yang looked Weiss in the eye and said, "Atlas Academy! They're all at Atlas Academy!"

A few hours later, Weiss was standing in her living room again. This time she was watching over Yang who was fast asleep on her couch. Fortunately, Weiss hadn't had the couch cleaned yet from the last time Yang had rudely used it as a bed, so she was content to let Yang lie there rather than mess up one of her actual guest beds with her unwashed body. She made a mental note to yell at Yang to take a shower when she woke up. The only reason she hadn't already was because she'd been more concerned about getting a little bit of food and water into Yang before she'd passed out.

Weiss turned from Yang and walked over to her kitchen where her other guest was fussing about. Rosalie was meticulously organizing the plates in one of the kitchen's cabinets, even though they were already meticulously organized. If it had been anyone other than Rosalie touching her dishware, Weiss would've been very upset. However, she trusted Rosalie above anyone else to leave all the plates in their correct spots.

Rosalie was clearly trying to distract herself, although Weiss couldn't say from what precisely. It was true that she'd been upset to learn that Ruby had been kidnapped, but she'd also been noticeably unnerved by the strange feat of transformation she'd seen Yang perform.

"Oh! Miss Schnee!" Rosalie said when she noticed Weiss had entered the kitchen. She closed the cabinet she'd been putzing around in. "How is your friend doing?"

"Well enough for now," Weiss said.

"That's good," Rosalie said, although she sounded unsettled.

There was an awkward pause. Then Rosalie hesitantly said, "That…thing she did. Admittedly I'm not very familiar with semblances, but that wasn't normal, right? That's not something people with semblances can usually do?"

"No. That was magic," Weiss explained.

"Magic? Is she…?" Rosalie didn't finish her question, but Weiss didn't need her to. She could see the fear in Rosalie's eyes now. The Maiden War had exposed the world to the power of magic, and it had not been a pleasant experience. For the average person, magic had gone from being the stuff of dreams to the stuff of nightmares. Following the War there had even been a minor, albeit short, backlash against Dust.

"Yang isn't a Maiden," Weiss said. "I don't know any of the details. But to hear her tell it, a wizard did it. Or her mother did. Honestly, I don't think she knows herself."

"Oh. Well," Rosalie said. And really, Weiss thought, what more could she say?

A loud knock suddenly came from the penthouse's front door.

"I'll get that!" Rosalie said with a little bit too much eagerness.

Weiss knew exactly who was at her front door. Especially since they'd elected not to use the doorbell. However, Rosalie was already on her way there. Weiss followed after her.

Rosalie quickly arrived at the front door. She reached for the doorknob and swung the door open. As Weiss had expected, Winter was standing on the other side.

Rosalie said, "General! I know you were invited, but I must insist you don't just barge in this time!"

Weiss saw Winter raise her eyebrow in wry amusement. Winter asked, "And if I decide to barge in anyway? Do you intend to stop me?"

"I do! And I will!" Rosalie said. "I've had a very strange day, and I won't put up with any more nonsense."

"Rosalie!" Weiss said as she finally reached the door. "It's alright. You can let the general in."

"Very well, Miss Schnee," Rosalie said. She backed away from the door, although reluctantly. "If you need me I'll be in just the other room."

"Thank you, Rosalie," Weiss said. Then she turned to her sister. "And thank you for coming so quickly."

Winter stepped into the penthouse. She was dressed in her uniform like always, and her hands were in their customary place tucked tightly behind her back. Her gaze followed Rosalie who was walking away.

Once Rosalie had vanished deeper into the penthouse, Winter said to Weiss, "I trust you understand what an imposition this is."

"I do," Weiss said, closing the door. "But given where Ruby is being held hostage, I decided you would need to know regardless."

"And you were correct," Winter said. "But these are very serious accusations you've made. As such, I'm sure you will appreciate that I cannot accept them at face value. Even from you, Sister."

"I have a very reliable source that—" Weiss started to say.

"Yes. So you told me already," Winter interrupted. "Who is this source of yours?"

"She's actually asleep on the couch in the living room right now, but—" Weiss once again started to say.

Winter immediately began walking toward the penthouse's living room. She said, "Wake her then. I must talk with her."

"She's…very tired at the moment," Weiss said as she scrambled to keep up with Winter.

"Time is of the essence," Winter said as she continued to walk. "If the allegations are true then we must act quickly, both for the sake of the Academy and for the sake of your paramour. If they are not true then I—"

Winter abruptly stopped in her tracks, so abruptly in fact that Weiss almost collided with her. Winter had reached the living room couch, and she was staring down at its sleeping occupant. She exclaimed, "Yang!?"

Winter stood there, apparently speechless. Weiss leaned around her. She glanced at Yang and then back at Winter. She asked, "Do you…know Yang?"

"Yes! I…" Winter said.

Weiss waited for Winter to continue. When she didn't, Weiss prompted, "You…what?"

"It was years ago when I was on assignment in Mistral, and…" Winter trailed off. A blush crept across her cheeks. It grew brighter and brighter until her entire face was red.

"Winter?" Weiss asked. She'd never seen her sister like this.

"I'm afraid it's classified!" Winter suddenly declared. She turned away from the couch and walked several steps away. Then she said, "But if Yang is your source, your information is accurate."

Weiss was utterly confused at this point, but she decided it would be best not to probe deeper. For one, it was clear that there was no way Winter would tell her anything more. Winter's past wasn't what was important at the moment anyway.

Weiss asked Winter, "Then you'll help me rescue Ruby?"

"Yes," Winter said.

Weiss walked over to Winter's side. She quietly said, "Thank you, Sister."

Winter's good eye slid over to Weiss. She stared at her for a moment.

"What is it?" Weiss asked.

"I heard about your dismissal from the Company," Winter said.

"I'm sure you're pleased I finally followed your advice and stepped away from my position," Weiss said. "But that's not what really happened."

"Oh?" Winter asked.

"I was faced with an impossible choice," Weiss said. "I could keep my job or save lives. Not both. It wasn't really a choice at all."

"That is where you are incorrect," Winter said. "It was a choice. Don't dismiss it just because your conscience directed you down the correct path. And don't discount how difficult it is to walk away from the life you had. Very few could have done that."

"Well I suppose," Weiss said. "But it's no different than what you did."

Winter turned to face Weiss completely. She said, "It is entirely different from what I did. I rejected the life of the Schnee heiress outright. You accepted it. Embraced it. Relished in it. You tasted the fruits of its rewards. Then once you realized what it cost, you disavowed it. That is a far more difficult thing to do than what I did."

Weiss looked a little wide-eyed for a moment. Winter's words were so genuine and heartfelt that she didn't quite know what to do with them.

Winter said, "I eagerly await watching you blossom into the woman you will become now that you're free to forge your own destiny."

It was all too much for Weiss. She suddenly felt like she might explode if she didn't express what she was feeling. So she spontaneously threw herself at Winter and gave her a hug.

Weiss felt Winter jump a little in surprise. She didn't blame her. Winter was as touch-adverse as Weiss herself usually was. But then Winter slowly wrapped one of her arms, her non-prosthetic one, around Weiss and hugged her back.

"Thank you, Winter," Weiss said.

Winter patted Weiss a few times. Then she gently but firmly pushed her back. She said, "Enough sentimentality. Let us go rescue your princess from the dragon's lair."

Weiss blinked in surprise. Then she grinned and asked, "Why Sister. Was that a poetic metaphor? Who are you, and what have you done with Winter?"

Winter rolled her eye. She said, "I was attempting to be appropriately dramatic."

"It was an admirable attempt," Weiss said. "But you're right. It's time for us to save Ruby."

Author's Note: This chapter is the genesis of the "Yang already knows/has met everyone" running gag. Or rather, Yang having a history with Winter was something I conceived of when I originally outlined the story, but as I was writing, the more people Yang already incidentally knew the funnier it was to me.

(I may have looked up the difference between a metaphor and a simile just to make sure Weiss was using the correct word. I can never keep them straight, but Weiss certainly can.)

As always, I welcome constructive criticism. Please feel free to leave a review. And if you like what you've read, taking the time to favorite and/or follow really helps me out. You can also find me on tumblr (electronicyarn) if you want to send me a message or be notified of updates.